Again folks, a big sorry for not being about, I got myself all caught up in other things that are less important; but thankfully realised where my priority lies, with Here Comes The Landed Gentry!
So; an update you want, then an update you shall have ladies and gents.
The second day of the foyle festival was really great. The weather was good to the bands, and I'm raging I missed most of it. However I did catch one of my favourite songwriters of 2009, 'The Mighty Stef'. He played without his band on the night, and I have to say, I was pretty captivated by the performance. The songs seemed more haunting on his own, and his voice was more than enough to make up for the power the band normally provide. Not ashamed to admit that a song or two of his had me induce a bit of a chin wobble! Amazing talented songwriter, and I would bottle that boys voice and sell it for motivation. I went straight home after compelled to pick up my guitar and write a story. (Puts me in mind of Mick Flannery, who I've been listening to recently)
You'll all be glad to know too, that I found my fancy camera, and shall be bringing it to various Gentry events and posting them here on the blog. It also does videos; so who knows...?
The cafe DelMondo gig was amazing! We spend a while organising room for us to play, and as it was an acoustic set, Rion and I had to swap instruments throught the set.
Starting out with The Bad Boat, we were finding our feet with the levels; but managed it by the 3rd song. The crowd enjoyed the set! But my highlight was the Creedance Clearwater revival cover of 'Run Through the jungle'. I played Rions stunning Telecaster and just solo'd away, it was like being free with a band who seem to be able to read what everyone is doing. The lowpoint for me, is a song that we haven't quite found an angle for; but I'm sure we'll get there somehow.
My mum and dad were there along with the bean, and she, being the bean (who would tell us if we were crap or not) gave an 8 and a half, which is pretty amazing from her! My parents enjoyed it, and so I was happy.
After the gig, and after most people were gone, Rion, Rob (who arrived shortly after we finished playing!), Rion's missus, JAMIEEE, and the Bean all stayed about after the cafe was locked up. We spent the best part of 2 hours laughing at some of Jamies joke, which were hilarious, and was still laughing today. We drank, we smoked and conversed until the wee hours of the morning. It was really lovely, and kinda makes me more and more happy that I was asked to join this band. So, I dunno if I've ever thanked Rion, but I will sometime soon.
So before I go; Think about this. Wine, Irish coffees, comfortable seats, good food and great company. Makes playing in this band that wee bit more, je ne sais pas!!
Merci à tous. Rendez-vous à la suivante, et je vous remercie de lis.
J
Monday, August 31, 2009
Where are you John J ??????
John gone put some of your really brilliant blogs up. You are seriously letting people down. People are in the middle east fighting a pointless war and the only salvation they get is reading your tremendous blogs. C'mon John, people are relying on you know more than ever, please don't let us down in our hour of need! C'mon buddy I know you have it in you. Like Michael Jackson (R.I.P.) sung "this ones for the children"...
...Do it, we want it, we need it, we love it, we depend on it!
Your Number 1 Fan ;)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
...Do it, we want it, we need it, we love it, we depend on it!
Your Number 1 Fan ;)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Irish weather...
You'd think I'd be used to it by now; but no.
But a really great evening. There were some really great acts on and I'm raging I missed a few! Caught the end of Paddy Nash with enough time to join in with singsong along with the crowd.
The rain was out full pelt and seeing about 80 people crammed under a canopy is indeed a sight to behold!
After 10 or so minutes of getting very wet, I nipped back into the Cafe for some amazing steak wine gravy potato stuff (can't mind the name of it... Rion? Help me out here!!)
A mate of mine stopped me mid-feast and exclaimed 'You's boys are on now, they're onstage!'
Needless to say, I finished my dinner, then casually wandered out to see what was happening. Wally was onstage; and it was only Keith... So I stayed about, listened to a new song of his, then back in I went.
When we finally were set-up and ready, the rain hadn't relented and it was pissing buckets. But we trooped on, and the spirit was there! Opening with Baditude got the crowd from the shelter and right up front for a dance.
To be fair, I can't remember the set much (I was forced beers), but I used the squeeze box the Rion got me for the first time... I don't think I did too bad for a beginner, but I'm gonna work at it.
We finished off the night with Whiskey Town, and everyone was leaping about. Good craic, good crowd and good times.
Packing up acoustic gear is brilliant. 5 minutes, and you're done!
Balkin Alien Sound headlined the night, and they were phenominal! Never seen a band as tight as them boys! Everyone was going nuts, and in the rain, it was something else!
So home again for me; I've had a pretty exausting few day's and am looking forward to not being outside for at least 8 hours.
Should be there tomorrow, so more then. But for now... Zzzzzzz
J
But a really great evening. There were some really great acts on and I'm raging I missed a few! Caught the end of Paddy Nash with enough time to join in with singsong along with the crowd.
The rain was out full pelt and seeing about 80 people crammed under a canopy is indeed a sight to behold!
After 10 or so minutes of getting very wet, I nipped back into the Cafe for some amazing steak wine gravy potato stuff (can't mind the name of it... Rion? Help me out here!!)
A mate of mine stopped me mid-feast and exclaimed 'You's boys are on now, they're onstage!'
Needless to say, I finished my dinner, then casually wandered out to see what was happening. Wally was onstage; and it was only Keith... So I stayed about, listened to a new song of his, then back in I went.
When we finally were set-up and ready, the rain hadn't relented and it was pissing buckets. But we trooped on, and the spirit was there! Opening with Baditude got the crowd from the shelter and right up front for a dance.
To be fair, I can't remember the set much (I was forced beers), but I used the squeeze box the Rion got me for the first time... I don't think I did too bad for a beginner, but I'm gonna work at it.
We finished off the night with Whiskey Town, and everyone was leaping about. Good craic, good crowd and good times.
Packing up acoustic gear is brilliant. 5 minutes, and you're done!
Balkin Alien Sound headlined the night, and they were phenominal! Never seen a band as tight as them boys! Everyone was going nuts, and in the rain, it was something else!
So home again for me; I've had a pretty exausting few day's and am looking forward to not being outside for at least 8 hours.
Should be there tomorrow, so more then. But for now... Zzzzzzz
J
Monday, August 17, 2009
The cat's yawn...
Jesus Christ! I don't think I've laughed as hard in all my life! I'm not going to go into detail, but I think I laughed for about half an hour straight!!!
I think I've pulled a muscle or something while I was at it...
That and the fact the Rob's and Marty's elbows were seperated at birth made a relatively mundane Monday into a fucking hilarious one!!!
So again, another acoustic practice; which went well. Two more of them and we'll be on tiptop form for Saturday. My wee Martin acoustic has been transformed into a bit of a monster, with a pickup ducktaped on and the lead ducktaped around the back. Same as the banjo... who'd have known that a beer bottletop would make such a difference! Cheers Conor for yer veg and bottletop innovation!
Apart from that, looking into coconut oil for beards (I'm not kidding!) Apparently, it's good for it... The internet was made for beard forums and a video of a guy catching a laptop with his arse. (Youtube it now, I promise you won't regret, nor forget it...)
Anyhow, off to bed to try and rest my poor side after this evenings antics...
G'night
J
I think I've pulled a muscle or something while I was at it...
That and the fact the Rob's and Marty's elbows were seperated at birth made a relatively mundane Monday into a fucking hilarious one!!!
So again, another acoustic practice; which went well. Two more of them and we'll be on tiptop form for Saturday. My wee Martin acoustic has been transformed into a bit of a monster, with a pickup ducktaped on and the lead ducktaped around the back. Same as the banjo... who'd have known that a beer bottletop would make such a difference! Cheers Conor for yer veg and bottletop innovation!
Apart from that, looking into coconut oil for beards (I'm not kidding!) Apparently, it's good for it... The internet was made for beard forums and a video of a guy catching a laptop with his arse. (Youtube it now, I promise you won't regret, nor forget it...)
Anyhow, off to bed to try and rest my poor side after this evenings antics...
G'night
J
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Sorry folks...
Been off the radar for a bit; so I thought I'd stick up a quick update about what's happening in our little world.
Wally & Marty have been organising the Foyle Folk festival, so we've had a few day's away from eachother's company for a while, but we found some time and got together tonight and had ourselves an acoustic practice. The abuse flew, the grief was knockin about and the craic was 90, so no change! Hoping to get a couple more of them before Saturday.
On the way home, for some reason unknown to me, Rion had the theme tune to Hong Kong Phooey on a mix CD... You would swear it was Marty singing!! Been trying to find out who sang it, but with no avail. Good for a laugh, so go and listen to it!
Hopefully there'll be more regular posts here, and vlogs are being looked into; so watch this... Well not this, but keep your eyes peeled.
On a final note, sad to hear Les Paul died during the week. To be fair, I personally wasn't a fan of his music although he was a great guitar player his entire life, but respected the man for more or less inventing the basis for the electric guitar. I don't own a gibson les paul, although dreamt of owning a tobacco burst custom, along with an ES355 (guitar heads assemble...)
So, although this will fall among many farewells on the internet; here's one from me. Cheers Les, well done & good man.
J
Wally & Marty have been organising the Foyle Folk festival, so we've had a few day's away from eachother's company for a while, but we found some time and got together tonight and had ourselves an acoustic practice. The abuse flew, the grief was knockin about and the craic was 90, so no change! Hoping to get a couple more of them before Saturday.
On the way home, for some reason unknown to me, Rion had the theme tune to Hong Kong Phooey on a mix CD... You would swear it was Marty singing!! Been trying to find out who sang it, but with no avail. Good for a laugh, so go and listen to it!
Hopefully there'll be more regular posts here, and vlogs are being looked into; so watch this... Well not this, but keep your eyes peeled.
On a final note, sad to hear Les Paul died during the week. To be fair, I personally wasn't a fan of his music although he was a great guitar player his entire life, but respected the man for more or less inventing the basis for the electric guitar. I don't own a gibson les paul, although dreamt of owning a tobacco burst custom, along with an ES355 (guitar heads assemble...)
So, although this will fall among many farewells on the internet; here's one from me. Cheers Les, well done & good man.
J
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Merch...
We've got it!
I'm going to look into zippo's too I think; they'll be expensive I reckon. Maybe down the line then (and don't worry lefties; I would make sure there were left handed ones too... ask Rion...)
So merch ideas! What could there be? I'm sure that some of you have an idea or four, so let us know for God's sake!
Futtering about on my beautiful 12 string today (thanks again Conzo), and decided to try different tunings. It's a bit of a bastard, but I ended up with some nice sounds. Sounded a bit singer song writer(y?) so I don't think it'd be HCTLG material; but I've been listening quite a bit to Bon Iver and Nick Drake.... All finger picking detuned stuff, again a bastard on a 12 string, but good when it works.
I promised a pic of our guitars for any guitar geeks out there; but you'll have to wait until they're all in a room at the same time. Off the top of my head, there are about 8 between us! Too much? NEVER!
Just one more thing... If you read these blogs, but haven't looked at our website, and downloaded our FREE song; then you're a bunch of berts!
If you no longer want to be regarded as a complete bert, and feel your human rights have been affected by being referred to as a complete bert; remember this... Bert's don't have human rights, so stop being really really bert and go to www.herecomesthelandedgentry.com, and download the free single.
If you do, I want pictures of people emailed to us holding a sign saying, 'I am not a bert anymore' (unless your name is bert, which in that case... Sorry to say that irrespective of downloading the song or not, you'll always technically be a Bert, and have no human rights, but a sign saying 'I am Bert, but have the songs' will give us a laugh)
There you have it... In simple terms: Reading this? Don't have Lightness & Weight or/and Rockabilly Boogie?
You are a Bert.
(And Keith... I want a picture, because I've got a wile feeling you're a bert)
G'bye!
J
I'm going to look into zippo's too I think; they'll be expensive I reckon. Maybe down the line then (and don't worry lefties; I would make sure there were left handed ones too... ask Rion...)
So merch ideas! What could there be? I'm sure that some of you have an idea or four, so let us know for God's sake!
Futtering about on my beautiful 12 string today (thanks again Conzo), and decided to try different tunings. It's a bit of a bastard, but I ended up with some nice sounds. Sounded a bit singer song writer(y?) so I don't think it'd be HCTLG material; but I've been listening quite a bit to Bon Iver and Nick Drake.... All finger picking detuned stuff, again a bastard on a 12 string, but good when it works.
I promised a pic of our guitars for any guitar geeks out there; but you'll have to wait until they're all in a room at the same time. Off the top of my head, there are about 8 between us! Too much? NEVER!
Just one more thing... If you read these blogs, but haven't looked at our website, and downloaded our FREE song; then you're a bunch of berts!
If you no longer want to be regarded as a complete bert, and feel your human rights have been affected by being referred to as a complete bert; remember this... Bert's don't have human rights, so stop being really really bert and go to www.herecomesthelandedgentry.com, and download the free single.
If you do, I want pictures of people emailed to us holding a sign saying, 'I am not a bert anymore' (unless your name is bert, which in that case... Sorry to say that irrespective of downloading the song or not, you'll always technically be a Bert, and have no human rights, but a sign saying 'I am Bert, but have the songs' will give us a laugh)
There you have it... In simple terms: Reading this? Don't have Lightness & Weight or/and Rockabilly Boogie?
You are a Bert.
(And Keith... I want a picture, because I've got a wile feeling you're a bert)
G'bye!
J
Friday, August 7, 2009
56789...
Today was a special day! The numbers are relevant.
The date was 07/08/09, and at six minutes past 5, I had myself a little nerd moment, and was all excited for the whole minute; the reason? The respective numbers read 5-6-7-8-9!
I know it's nothing to do with the Gentry per se, but I was pretty chuffed about it altogether!
As far as the Gentry goes, we're gonna be back in the rehersal space together soon, and therefore may be a little video treat on its way!
Thats it for now folks, I've been off the airwaves for a while, but I should be back much more often!
J
The date was 07/08/09, and at six minutes past 5, I had myself a little nerd moment, and was all excited for the whole minute; the reason? The respective numbers read 5-6-7-8-9!
I know it's nothing to do with the Gentry per se, but I was pretty chuffed about it altogether!
As far as the Gentry goes, we're gonna be back in the rehersal space together soon, and therefore may be a little video treat on its way!
Thats it for now folks, I've been off the airwaves for a while, but I should be back much more often!
J
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Up the Yurt big lad...!
Filmed backstage @ Glasgowbury' 09... HCTLG doin a BBC session for ATL
cheers
M
cheers
M
Signed, Sealed and Delivered!
Today at the legendary Cafe Del Mondo on the Londonderry Walls Robert Elliot confirmed a permenant position with Londonderrys finest band of outlaws Here Comes The Landed Gentry.
See him shake hands with none other than Rion Mc Cartney a.k.a Reno Rodriguez from the group after signing numerous contracts and having a bowl of the cafe del mondo world famous stew.
Also present at the meeting were Mr Elliots solicitor Mr Brendan Kearney and HCTLG band solicitor Mr Dermot Walker who declined from photos as there both well bent and doin the double!
So there you go, cheerio!!!
R
See him shake hands with none other than Rion Mc Cartney a.k.a Reno Rodriguez from the group after signing numerous contracts and having a bowl of the cafe del mondo world famous stew.
Also present at the meeting were Mr Elliots solicitor Mr Brendan Kearney and HCTLG band solicitor Mr Dermot Walker who declined from photos as there both well bent and doin the double!
So there you go, cheerio!!!
R
Monday, August 3, 2009
Bored, Bored, Bored
Bored off our tits, hungover, cant wait to start playing again.
Thats all folks.
R
Thats all folks.
R
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
